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When Numbers Become Obscene

In the beginning of Exodus 30:12-13, God commands Moses not conduct a head count of the Israelites before they go into battle against future adversaries:

“When you take a census of the Israelites who are to be registered, each one, as he is enrolled, shall give the LORD a forfeit for his life, so that no plague may come upon them for being registered. Everyone who enters the registered group must pay a half-shekel, according to the standard of the sanctuary ...

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Categories: American Jewish Issues, Bible, biblical history, biblical theology, Current Events, ethics, good and evil, Holocaust Related Issues, Jewish and Jungian ideas, Jewish Folklore, Jewish History, Jewish symbolism, judaism, Political Commentaries, The Future of Judaism, Theology and Philosophy

“Purim Torah” or Purim Synchronicity?

Purim Torah is a remarkable genre of Jewish literature. It is rabbinic satire at its best that centers around the festivities of Purim. Those individuals writing Purim Torah display remarkable wit in weaving Talmudic logic in fabricating conclusions that border the absurd and sublime.

Earlier this week, I received a delightful section of a fabricated Talmud-replete with all the Aramaic expressions one would expect to find in a Talmudic debate. The selection contains a discussion involving President ...

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Categories: American Jewish Issues, Anti-Semitism, Bible, biblical history, biblical theology, Contrarian wisdom, ethics, good and evil, Holidays, Holocaust Related Issues, Israel, Jewish and Jungian ideas, Jewish customs, Jewish Folklore, Jewish History, Jewish symbolism, The Future of Judaism, Theology and Philosophy

The Haman Archetype Lives On

The joke is as old as the hills.

A Chinese man and his Jewish friend were walking along one day when the Jewish man whirled and slugged the Chinese man and knocked him down. “What was that for?” the Chinese man asked. “That was for Pearl Harbor!” the Jewish man said. “Pearl Harbor? That was the Japanese. I’m Chinese.” “Chinese, Japanese, you are all the same!” “Oh!” They continued walking and after a while the Chinese man whirled and knocked the ...

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Categories: Anti-Semitism, Bible, biblical history, biblical theology, Contrarian wisdom, Current Events, ethics, good and evil, Holidays, Interfaith Dialogue, Israel, Jewish and Jungian ideas, Jewish customs, Jewish History, Jewish symbolism, Political Commentaries, The Future of Judaism

Purim Memories and Reflections

Purim is here once more. For me it is a bitter-sweet holiday.

The year was 1996. Earlier that day, I went to the hospital to wish my father a “Freilach Purim” (Happy Purim). I was reading the Megillah for my synagogue, when suddenly, somebody informed me,”Rabbi, your father just died.” Feeling stunned, I could not finish reading the Megillah.

Death is as mysterious as life; I believe we have to find meaning in the events that occur around us. Psychologist Victor Frankl ...

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Categories: American Jewish Issues, Anti-Semitism, Bible, biblical history, biblical theology, Contrarian wisdom, Current Events, ethics, good and evil, Heart-Centered Judaism, Holidays, Holocaust Related Issues, Israel, Jewish and Jungian ideas, Jewish Folklore, Jewish History, Jewish symbolism, The Future of Judaism

From Skinhead to Haredi Jew: A Tale of Personal Transformation

In the previous posts, we touched upon the dynamics of the shadow archetype that hides the inner person that exists inside us. The key to a optimum psychological state of health requires that we get understand the hidden depths of our souls and psyches. Here is a remarkable story about coming to terms with one’s shadow, compliments of NY Times and the Failedmessiah-two excellent websites.

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From Skinhead to Orthodox Jew

Adam Lach for The New York Times

Pawel in the Warsaw ...

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Categories: Anti-Semitism, Bible, Contrarian wisdom, Conversion, Current Events, ethics, good and evil, Heart-Centered Judaism, Holocaust Related Issues, Interfaith Dialogue, Israel, Jewish and Jungian ideas, Jewish Folklore, Jewish History, Jewish symbolism, Stories for the Searching Heart, Theology and Philosophy

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